Maison Lunatique

Todd Selby

2010-07-01T18:15:00.000Z

If you are into eclectic interiors or are looking for quirky inspiration, The Selby is in your place is a great new book by Todd Selby that shows you that true style is all about the details! Here are some of my favourite pics...

LU prints

2010-06-13T15:02:00.006Z

These Scandinavian inspired, eco-friendly, silk screened prints were handmade by Ulla Clark in Pemberton, B.C. She has a small but beautiful selection of pillows, table linen and aprons. Check them out... LU prints

New Build

2010-06-13T02:12:00.018Z

Like many of you out there I would love to one day design and build a new home. I thought I would post a collage of photos of different homes that inspire me and create a small vision of what my future dream house might look like.

This home would be built on an irregular shaped lot surrounded by the trees and rock that are typical of the Pacific Northwest landscape. I would also love for these elements to be incorporated into the structure. The majority of beams, millwork and structural components would be Douglas Fir or Red Cedar, with some local granite and stone elements. I would also add concrete, floor to ceiling windows and my personal taste for some industrial aesthetic throughout.

Essentially, I envision a sort of a turn of the century mill, barn or warehouse meeting a contemporary concrete home, and adapting itself to a beautiful West Coast lot. We can all dream, can't we? :)

Upholstery Fabric

2010-02-16T15:15:00.002Z

www.modern-fabrics.com

I found this link on a few blogs and thought I would repeat it here. This is a fantastic source for high end modern upholstery fabric. They have an amazing selection! Sadly, they do not ship to Canada...

Inspiration

2010-02-03T21:15:00.003Z

I am starting to get more and more inspired by quirky fashion photography. I love the dark navy satin and green wool texture in this shot. I also love the splash of charcoal fur.

It reminds me for some reason of Paola Lenti furniture, and their dynamic use of colour and texture. The grey, white and black colour scheme is getting so overdone...

Kitchen Ideas

2009-10-21T21:12:00.010Z

A Seattle based company called Kerf is designing and manufacturing beautiful handmade plywood cabinets, with colourful laminate and wood veneer finishes.

These kitchens would look amazing in a post and beam home; updating the function of the kitchen while staying true to the spare style and use of practical materials.

Kerf also make free standing cabinets, built in units and bathrooms.

I am a huge fan of plywood. It is an amazingly flexible material, not only in a literal sense but in its incredible range of uses. It is also environmentally sound (depending on the source) and inexpensive.

Tile

2009-10-16T19:32:00.015Z

Dear new owners of a mid century home, here is an exciting idea for your bathrooms, kitchens, foyer and entrance... Fabulous abstract modern mosaics!

Oh yes, you say, that's an amazing idea! Imagine what we can do with choice of colour and design. Forget paying a fortune to Bizazza or Sicis, let's create something all on our own that will give our home its own unique feature and echo its modernist past.

These fantastic tile mosaics were designed by Paulo Werneck (Brazil) and Vancouver's own BC Binning.

I would love to see something similar across the wall of a large shower or bath enclosure. They would also work well as a kitchen backsplash or entrance feature.

The use of these mosaics would depend on the individual house and what original or expected interior choices would be made to coexist with them. (e.g., colour, texture and lighting) The possibilities are limitless in terms of what you can do. I would even be tempted to break from the traditional modernist mold and create something abstract that reflects something of the new owners personal taste or history.

Design ideas for your recently purchased mid century home...

2009-10-14T18:43:00.009Z

This mid century gem just sold in the British Properties and I immediately daydreamed about updating the interiors for its new owners.

I think the first practical investment would have to go towards a new geothermal heating system. I know, I know, so expensive; but how will you enjoy all those expansive windows without monstrous heating bills and ravaging the environment? Trust me it will be a lot cheaper than replacing all of the windows with custom made wood framed double paned replicas.

The green shag will have to go... Almost everything else will stay!

Replace that nasty wall to wall with some fir, oak or cherry (FSC approved of course!) trying to work with the orange toned wood on the walls and stairs. I would also choose small plank or parquet to match the era.

Next? Curtain fabric. I would make a choice of fabric once the owners and I had decided what furniture and artwork would be placed in these two rooms. If the furniture is very minimal and neutral in colour, I would probably choose a retro print or Scandinavian inspired fabric. If the furniture and decor was eclectic, I would choose a neutral toned fabric for the curtains. Given that Vancouver is situated in a rain forest, most of my interior decisions work around keeping things light and expansive.

More ideas to come...

Don't do this.

2009-10-12T19:41:00.018Z

Hello. I have decided to resurrect this blog; my tiny forum on interior design in the bloggosphere. My situation makes it impossible for me to work for now, so this will have to be the outlet for my passion in the short term. To survive some of the worst moments over the last year and a half I would often close my eyes and design! design! DESIGN!

So, my first post after returning to live in Vancouver, and the north shore more specifically, is PLEASE DON'T DO THIS!

If you are lucky enough to get your hands on a sweet, spare and gloriously simple post and beam; please don't try and turn it into a faux craftsman or a Whistler style condo. Good God in heaven, don't we have enough boring architecture in this city without having to destroy the few homes of architectural and historical interest!

I came across these photos and they make me want to SCREAM. Sadly, most of the real estate buying public in Vancouver completely misunderstand these buildings.

Someone has spent a whole heap of money trying to make an unadorned, modern and streamlined structure, heavy, traditional and bulky.

I wish that there was a government body on the north shore that would declare these little gems as heritage, protect them from being knocked down and offer owners some design guidelines. I fear that they will never be given their due here until it is far too late.

Sooooo... lucky new owners of a post and beam...... why not try this?

Or this...

Or this...

My Last Post

2008-03-01T22:14:00.004Z

Yesterday, after many months of waiting, my eldest son Max was finally diagnosed as being on the mild end of the Autistic Spectrum. Now that we know what his condition is, we are going to move back to Canada and start to help him overcome his speech and language delay and behavioural difficulties. I now plan on dedicating the years ahead to working with him full time and coordinating all the treatments and activities that will benefit him (while also looking after my 3 month old son). This means, however, that I will no longer have the time needed to upload regular posts on this blog and so this will be my last post. I can't begin to describe how amazing it has been to connect with other interior designers and design enthusiasts from around the world and how it has benefited and expanded my own knowledge and aesthetic. I hope that over the last year my blog offered someone out there a little inspiration.
Au Revoir. Toute a l'heure.

Fun Tiles

2008-02-12T20:10:00.000Z

I saw these tiles in The Guardian over the weekend and thought they were fabulous.

The alphabet tiles are from Pedlars www.pedlars.co.uk. and the vintage postcard tiles are from Welbeck www.welbecktiles.com.

My Latest Project: Dublin

2008-01-31T09:54:00.000Z

Here are some photos of a project that I completed before the baby arrived in December. This was a renovation of a four bedroom, five bathroom home over three floors.

Nathaniel Harrison Smith

2007-12-08T12:17:00.000Z

Born December 3rd, 2007. Nathan joins his brother Maxwell Alexander Smith (3) to make our family complete!!

I will be back in the new year with photos of my latest project and with regular weekly posts. Happy Holidays to everyone who reads this blog.

Parquet

2007-11-18T21:27:00.000Z

I love parquet flooring and would love to use it in a future project. It lends itself well to reclaimed timber and can provide endless possibilities in both classical and contemporary patterns. I found this image on the New York Times website incredibly inspiring.

Private Courtyards

2007-10-23T07:02:00.000Z

I am incredibly fond of private courtyards in residential housing design. They seem to work especially well in hot and windy climates, where they offer protection from the elements. If you are lucky enough to have the prevailing wind blowing in the right direction, the ideal placement of the courtyard would be to face southwest so that you would get the late afternoon sun and sunset.

Courtyards are a perfect way to add privacy and to subtly extend the interior space outside. I have posted two contemporary examples of courtyards here designed by Spanish architect Alberto Baeza which I found inspiring. I would personally add more plantings to these courtyards, as part of the joy of owning a private courtyard is the ability to look out into your own secret garden.

Industrial Facility

2007-10-07T08:27:00.000Z

Sam Hecht and Kim Colin founded Industrial Facility in London in 2002 with a goal to bring fresh and functional modern design to everyday objects. I love the balanced blend of simplicity and utility in their designs, especially in their work for Muji, Epsom and Whirlpool.

The variety of objects that they work on is also refreshing. Checkout this mini-kitchen from Whirlpool, printer from Epsom and cookie cutter from Muji.

Broomhill

2007-09-05T07:13:00.000Z

I traveled to North Devon last weekend to attend a party organized by some old friends of ours, and we spent two fabulous nights tucked away at the Broomhill Art Hotel and Sculpture Park.

Although, my main focus has always been interiors, I love gardening and landscaping and feel strongly that it is an important extension of interior design and architecture. I guess it is not surprising that I fell head over heels with this sculpture park, and immediately wanted to ship all of these pieces to Dublin to sit in my backyard.

Sadly, for me, most of these sculptures deserve large rolling landscapes. Part of the fun is discovering them hidden behind a corner or down a sloping, fern clad ravine. I love how their presence jars the imagination and ask the viewer to reinterpret their surroundings.

David Katon's Southern Highlands Home

2007-08-29T19:37:00.000Z

David Katon of Burley Katon Halliday built this stunning tribute to Modernism in Australia's Southern Highlands.

I came across it in Vogue Living Australia's May/June issue and immediately filed it away under 'dream home design'. Hmmm, if I could somehow incorporate Toyo Ito's arches and an inner courtyard... and a wee bit more funk to the interiors... Definite dream home material.

Tama Art University Library

2007-08-26T14:30:00.000Z

This is a photo of the new Tama Art University Library designed by Toyo Ito, that I have been unable to tear myself away from over the last 24 hours.

I love how the design is so light and graceful and its statement so ethereal. Its soaring arches and curved pillars echo classical architecture but the modern materials, large windows and spare finishing speak to a very contemporary aesthetic.

The structure has also been built on a gentle slope, and both floors follow the natural curve of the hill. It was also designed to hold 300,000 volumes underground, with a gallery on the main floor and a large reading area on the top floor.

My Marrakesh decorating challenge

2007-08-23T14:03:00.000Z

I have been shaken out of my mad summer work mode to take up the challenge posed by Maryam of My Marrakesh. The challenge is to come up with some fresh ideas for the new bathrooms being built in her guest house in Morocco...

Drawing my inspiration from these gorgeous tiles from Ceramiche Provenza (above), I would work from a palate of ivory, gold and brown. (Sorry Maryam, my minimalist leanings are coming through)

I would start by placing the Provenza tiles on all walls up to chair rail height and then paint the rest of the wall and ceiling in an off white. For sink back splashes, tub and shower surrounds I would use a gold mosaic tile (example left) and for the floor I would use a sepia coloured ceramic tile like the one above from Fired Earth.

The bathtub and sinks would have to be from the Spoon XL range from Agape, because they are my absolute favourites...

Sadly, I could not find any modern faucets that I liked with a brass finish, as everything out there seems to be chrome, so I have chosen the Axor Starck X collection by Hansgrohe and ask you to imagine that they come in brass.

I want to apologize to Maryam for my lack of ochre and indigo. I also have a strange obsession with white porcelain (no doubt from living through the 70's and witnessing lavender bathrooms) which may not be appropriate in a North African setting, but if you wanted more colourful bathroom furniture Durat make great pieces from recycled materials in a fabulous range of colours.

Mosaic Tile

2007-07-31T19:41:00.002Z

I really love the use of modern mosaic tile. Tile is such a wonderful medium with which to add an original and timeless design to an interior. I find its texture, sense of history and artwork irresistible.

In my mind, it is most striking in a spare setting like the one shown left, which is a Bisazza design. I also love the simple lines, and the muted and subtle colour tones of the floor mosaic shown on the right.

Ingmar Bergman: RIP

2007-07-31T06:40:00.001Z

" A master with an inspired personal style; an artist of deep concern and intellect, whose films would prove equal to great European literature."- Woody Allen

Photo Source

2007-07-15T19:57:00.000Z

I recently came across Gaile Guevara's blog, which has a huge and well chosen collection of interior design photos that have become a source of inspiration in my recent project. Although it has not been updated in a while, it is still a great site to go to for a quick browse through some impressive modern interiors. As fate would have it, she is also from my home town, Vancouver, B.C.

Woodnotes

2007-07-05T11:41:00.000Z

I have been sourcing blinds for my current project and came upon these gorgeous paper yarn blinds from Finland.

Inspired by Finnish raw materials, Woodnotes was founded by Ritva and Mikko Puotila in 1987. Their large collection of products are made from spun paper yarn often blended with cotton.

The effect is a light, delicate and durable texture that lends a very subtle touch to contemporary window treatments.

Wengé

2007-06-20T15:23:00.000Z

My current project is a design for a residential home that is using an overall base theme of Wengé and white. This look was inspired by Kelly Hoppen's recent refurbishment of her new home in London. During my search for materials and suppliers I have come to understand a lot more about the incredible wood that is Wengé.

Wengé wood (also known as African/Congolese rosewood) is a tropical timber of the Wengé tree (Millettia laurentii) from Africa. The wood is very dark and dense with a coarse grain and a pattern of nearly black grains separated by dark brown grains. The tree is native to Congo, Cameroon, Gabon, Tanzania and Mozambique. The trees grow to a height of approximately 20 meters with a trunk of up to 1 meter in diameter.

Wengé can also be challenging to work with. Sharp tools are essential and the long coarse texture can tend to tear out and cause some difficulty in sanding. The wood will glue well if the gluing is done as soon as the surface is dressed by planing, sanding or scraping. The dust of Wengé is also quite toxic and can be highly irritating if not handled carefully.

Wengé is incredibly expensive in Europe and the look is often imitated with stains and veneers on other less expensive hardwoods. This is in fact a good thing, as Wengé is known to be acquired through illegal harvesting in the Congo where the industry is improperly regulated.

Mimetic House

2007-06-04T11:28:00.000Z

One of the AAI (Architectural Association of Ireland) winners this year was this house that is tucked deep in the countryside of County Leitrim.

Vertical panes of glass and mirror are alternated on the exterior to allow light in to the house while at the same time reflecting the surrounding landscape. The architect, Dominic Stevens, designed it to reflect the change in seasons and weather conditions thereby 'mimicking' its environment and becoming a part of it.

Viccarbe

2007-05-25T15:27:00.000Z

During my travels in Spain, I came across a contemporary furniture company based in Valencia called Viccarbe. Here are some pieces that I thought were fantastic.

Barcelona: Vincon

2007-05-23T14:05:00.000Z

A trip to Barcelona should include a trip to Vincon for anyone who is design obsessed. Housed in a historic building on the Passeig de Gracia it is filled to the brim with classic pieces and unique creations, many of which are at affordable prices. The lighting department and the furniture gallery should not be missed! Here are some items that caught my eye...

To the right is a Ron Arad chair designed in 2005.

This is a cube light that comes on when you open the top.

Finally, the cereal dispenser, a very useful device in my house.

Barcelona: Gotham

2007-05-22T05:11:00.000Z

While I was in Barcelona last week I got a chance to visit Gotham, which is a store specializing in vintage modern furniture from the 50s, 60s an 70s.

There was an amazing selection, all of which was in really great shape, and it was a thrill to see some authentic pieces up close.

Milan: Established and Sons

2007-05-09T10:39:00.000Z

Established and Sons launched two fantastic pieces during the Salone del Mobile. The first, a set of stools grouped together to form a single seating platform which can be separated to move around the room or reform in different clusters.

I know I have mentioned this before, but I love furniture that you are able to interact with, and the Nekton stool by Zaha Hadid allows you to do just that.

The second piece is the Crate Series, which consists of five separate units that can be used as tables, cabinets and... a spare bed. Jasper Morrison designed them to give the impression that they were home made, perhaps to highlight the practicality of the design and its modest origins.

I am heading off for a family vacation to the Costa Brava and Barcelona. I hope to bring back some exciting finds for my posts after May 20th. Adios!

Milan: Formfjord

2007-05-07T17:53:00.000Z

At the Salone Satellite I found this great shelving system by Formfjord. All of the units are magnetic and can be easily moved around to form various combinations that easily snap into place.

They also make this wonderful vase that is designed to display flowers horizontally.

Langston Hughes Library

2007-05-05T19:21:00.000Z

I really admire projects that take historic buildings and combine them seamlessly with contemporary architecture. It is a difficult feat to pull off, but in the best cases the reinterpretation brings the building alive and creates a space that speaks to both eras.

A marvelous example of this is the Langston Hughes Library in Clinton, Tennessee. Maya Lin designed this for the Children's Defence Fund to house a 5,000 volume reference collection that specializes in the Civil Rights Movement and books written by Black authors. It is an 1860's cantilevered barn which is typical of that area and period.

Milan: Piet Boon

2007-05-01T18:47:00.000Z

I have seen Piet Boon furniture in magazines before, but Milan was the first time I was able to experience a whole collection in person.

The Piet Boon Zone was part of the Superstudio Piu in the Zona Tortona, which is one of the most exciting areas of Milan to visit during the Salone del Mobile.

Most of his collections are in neutral, earthy tones, with a lot of dark wood and rough textured fabric. They have very classic modern lines, which keeps the furniture from feeling to heavy and overwhelming.

The craftsmanship and the finishing on the chairs and sectionals are really superb, and they are also incredibly comfortable to sit in!

Milan: Moroso

2007-04-30T11:25:00.000Z

I am a huge fan of Patricia Urquiola and was dying to see her new work for Moroso in Milan. I was not disappointed. In fact, the whole collection blew me away.

I particularly love how Moroso has delved head first into really interesting fabrics, prints and textures. It was a real visual feast after so many stands of solid colours and standard finishes.

Milan: Ceramica Bella

2007-04-28T18:41:00.000Z

As you may have already gathered from my posts, I have a soft spot for beautiful ceramics. I love the fact that they come from the earth yet attain such ethereal perfection under the right hands.

Rina Menardi is a new discovery for me. She has a range of vases, bowls and serving plates that strike a beautiful balance between delicate porcelain and rustic pottery. The red pieces were absolute show stoppers.

Seletti has also launched a fun line of ceramics that looks as if it found its inspiration in disposable containers and cartons.

Milan: Pircher and Paola Lenti

2007-04-26T12:49:00.000Z

There was another prefab installation in the Zona Tortona that was far more interesting than the Loft Cube. It was a prefabricated system by Bestetti Associati for Pircher that is entirely made of glass, wood and iron.

Large rectangular prefabricated rooms can be coordinated to create a variety of home designs. They also claim to be environmentally sustainable and energy efficient.

The interiors inside the Pircher installation were decorated with furniture and rugs by Paola Lenti. Their stunning collections are extremely high quality and come in an array of saturated hues.

I am completely besotted with the whole rug collection and particularly those designed by Patricia Urquiola.

Milan: Loft Cube

2007-04-25T12:39:00.000Z

The area outside the Marcel Wanders Studio exhibit was dominated by a full sized Loft Cube. After seeing it in so many magazines over the last year, I was dying to get inside and quickly joined the queue.

Initially in awe of the layout and clever separation of living areas, my disappointment mounted as the practical woman in me kept searching for storage - any storage, but to no avail. I also do not feel that additional storage space would have affected the design concept. For example, the bathroom and kitchen sinks were wall mounted with no cupboards below. Hmm... where to hide those cleaning products? Perhaps the people who come to clean the cube bring them with them...

The choice of white Corian for the kitchen counters, cupboards and sink looked absolutely stunning, but would drive the average person mad trying to keep clean, as every little fingerprint would stand out like a scar on your lovely new kitchen. I was thinking that perhaps a better choice would be a white Corian counter (which is manageable) and cupboards in a wood veneer to match the window frames.

I often think that what differentiates industrial design from fine art is the fact that great design must be beautiful and practical; definitely a hard balance to strike. In fact, what initially drew me to design was that amazing combination of beauty, genius, function and a grounding in the every day that the very best work achieves.

Milan: Avverati

2007-04-24T17:39:00.000Z

Salone Satellite is one of the most interesting areas to visit at the Salone del Mobile. It is an area for emerging designers and students to display their designs to talent scouts, manufacturers and a curious public. This year an exhibition called Avverati (A Dream Come True) was held in this area to highlight the many successful pieces that have emerged from Salone Satellite since it began in 1998. There were many wonderful designs here; some that I recognized and some that were exciting new discoveries.

Indaco Design created these ceramic boxes in 2003. They function as storage boxes, display objects and ovenproof casseroles.

A star-shaped cut eliminates material at critical points on this tray designed by Suntae Kim in 2006. When fruit is added they reassemble tropical flowers.

Catherine Mui designed this lamp in 2005. It can be maneuvered to into different shapes by sliding the boxes from side to side.

David Trubridge, who is a new discovery for me, currently has a large collection of furniture and lighting that takes its inspiration from natural forms. He originally exhibited the Body Raft at the Salone Sattelite in 2001 and the Reed Light in 2002.

Milan: Marcel Wanders Studio

2007-04-23T19:16:00.000Z

One of the most exciting exhibits I came across in Milan was in the Zona Tortona, where a large warehouse had been turned into a gallery for Marcel Wanders' personal designs. These are pieces that are perhaps impractical to produce on a mass scale, but are creations that he felt necessary to explore and exhibit. It was very exciting to see a designer create a forum (self-financed) that seeks to challenge and expand our relationship to design.

Enormous painted bells, illuminated from inside, were suspended throughout the room; each bell decorated in a variety of colours and patterns.

The Crochet Chair, which was exhibited at Design Miami, sat in the centre of the room where a back light outlined its beautiful crochet patterns. (It is hand crocheted and coated with a fibre resin)

This white carrera marble console was sand blasted to leave a similar crochet pattern on its luminescent surface.

There were also magnesium etchings and one in particular, depicting a medieval city and an interplay of moving forms and measurement, that I found quite stunning.

My favourite items were his delft blue porcelain vases and figures. They are a delicate and distinctly modern interpretation of the historic delft blue ceramics. The traditional forms are slightly reinterpreted and the brush strays from the standard outline, splashing out in trails of gorgeous blue over the restrained white classic shapes.

Milan Preview

2007-04-17T13:47:00.000Z

I am heading to Milan this week for the Salone Internazionale del Mobile and hope to come home with a boatload of information, ideas and inspirations for my posts. To say that I am excited would be a vast understatement! I thought I would start with some of the Milan previews that I find really interesting.

Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec designed these chairs for Vitra (left); and the Pol sofa and Stone light for Kartell and Swarovski.

Foster & Partners are launching these chairs (below) for Emeco called 20-06, which are made from 80% recycled aluminium.

Luce Plan is also launching this beautiful light designed by Inga Sempe (below).

Georgian Dublin

2007-04-16T06:09:00.000Z

My favourite route through Dublin is to travel up Leeson Street, cross the canal and turn right onto Fitzwilliam. At this point, on a clear day, you have a mile long view of early Georgian town homes that stretches uninterrupted (except for one tragic half block) until it meets Holles Street Maternity Hospital. Coming from a part of the world where most buildings are less than 100 years old, I am in awe of this small stretch of history and it allowed me to understand immediately the current popularity of Georgian homes.

During the 18th century Dublin was transformed from a medieval town into one of the finest Georgian cities in Europe. Peace and stability in the country gave rise to great social and economic activity; and like most eras of economic prosperity, architecture became a huge reflection of this golden period. In the two centuries that followed the year 1800, when the Irish Parliament was dissolved and the MPs moved to England, severe economic decline, terrible tragedy and political upheaval translated into minimal architectural investment. The result of this 200 year period of very little building and development, was the preservation of an incredible number of Georgian homes, streets and squares, which would have otherwise most likely have been demolished in favour of Victorian Gothic style.

What is so striking about early Georgian architecture, is its clean lines and classic scaling. It is characterized by its proportion and balance; simple mathematical ratios were used to determine the height of a window in relation to its width or the shape of a room as a double cube. Large windows, imposing doors and parapets that hide the edge of the roof, all force the eye up off the ground and create a sense of symmetry. When they are placed next to each other and stretch for blocks, as on Fitzwilliam Street, the effect is so dramatic that you can see how the beauty of such precise and streamlined architecture could speak to our modern and contemporary sensibilities.

Aiveen Daly

2007-04-11T19:37:00.000Z

New upholstery can not only transform a piece of furniture, but also dramatically transform the room it sits in. Recovering vintage furniture from any era is one of the most creative aspects to decorating a room. It is far more interesting than buying everything new and is definitely a more environmentally sustainable approach. Aiveen Daly takes upholstery to a new level, by creating bespoke couture upholstery designs in a luxurious array of original textiles, and with fine details like pleats, ribbon and buttons. Here are some of examples of her work:

This floor to ceiling panel is covered in an early Timorous Beasties fabric.

Here a Victorian ottoman is covered in a retro Swedish union linen. The seat lifts up to reveal storage inside, lined with tangerine cotton.

This chair was a commission for Elle Deco and Liberty of London. It is covered in an eclectic mix of Liberty shirt fabrics.

'Moneypenney', as this chair is called, is upholstered in Herringbone Tweed, with handmade frill, piping and buttoned suit detailing.

This chair was upholstered in Hemp and goatskin for shoe designer Rupert Sanderson's store in Mayfair.

Ken Shuttleworth

2007-04-07T20:20:00.000Z

Ken Shuttleworth designed this gorgeous piece of modern architecture in 1996 to replace the family weekend cottage in Wiltshire, England.

The house consists of two crescents that are placed side by side with a gallery space in between. The main crescent consists of a wall of curving glass that faces the garden, with an open plan living, dining, recreation area. Behind it, the other crescent consists of five bedrooms with a solid wall to the rear.

The gentle curve of the glass lends itself to the rural landscape, almost as if two arms were extending into it. Its shape also shields the garden from the wind. Apparently, deer, badgers, pheasants and foxes wander right up to the glass.

Creation Baumann

2007-04-05T12:19:00.000Z

Creation Baumann has a wonderful line of sheer curtain fabrics called Cerberus, specifically designed to work with the large amount of glass used in contemporary architecture. It can be very tricky to try and provide privacy and shade without hindering the aesthetic, expansive and luminous effect that these windows and walls have on the interior space.

These fabrics work well because they add a simple elegance and interest to the windows without detracting or adding heaviness to the clean and simple lines of a a large glass wall or window.

The fabrics come in stripe designs, contrast-rich checks, ingenious gauze weaves, distinctive jacquard, textured weaves, elegant plissé fabrics and blended effect yarn to generate a delicate rib effect. The colour range is very simple; white, beige, black, anthracite and grey. The gauze weaves are also available in metallic shades.

Milk

2007-04-03T13:37:00.000Z

I've seen this desk on a few blogs, but I simply have to make a post of my own about it because...well, I love it. Being a Mac junkie, I can't help thinking how suitable an altar it will be for my digital idol.

Milk was designed by Soren Kjaer to work seamlessly with Mac computers. There are exits on the surface and a drawer at the back to hide those nasty cables.

The compartments on the left hand side are designed to be anything from simple storage to a rubbish bin...

or a goldfish tank!

Atelier Abigail Ahern

2007-04-01T13:33:00.000Z

Abigail Ahern is a stylist and an interior designer who has spent years travelling around the globe for different jobs and assignments. Her store, Atelier Abigail Ahern in Islington, London is a direct reflection of her diversity of experience and eclectic taste.

I really like this type of earthy modern style, where coarse textures and rough finishes are balanced with contemporary clean edges and curves.

The textile collection is stunning selection of beautiful shades of mossy green, mustard and grey.

Schulte Design

2007-03-30T17:26:00.000Z

This stunning kitchen island is called Grace and is produced by Shulte Design from Krefeld, Germany. The clean lines and proportions, with a spare touch of chrome finishing, balance out the heaviness of the wood. The result is a centrepiece that brings warmth and a hint of traditionalism to a contemporary kitchen, and creates a relaxed gathering spot for family and friends.

It is pictured here in walnut, but is available in olive, apple, wild cherry and other exotic woods. Length and height can also be specified.

Electrical circuitry is integrated and cleverly hidden, so there are no messy wires.

Matching benches can come as single or corner modules, and with or without backrests.

Muji

2007-03-26T12:13:00.000Z

One of my favourite discoveries in Dublin, since moving here from Canada, is a store called Muji. The Muji chain is originally from Japan, and is full of well designed household and office accessories.

The overall design concept is very clean and simple, with neutral colours and high quality production. They are also committed to selling recycled and environmentally friendly products.

There are many handy objects that integrate well with different interior styles.

A small but tasteful collection of tableware, place mats, bedding and clothing, is combined with a cornucopia of stationary and storage items. For someone who is organizationally obsessed like myself, it is heaven!

Lincoln House

2007-03-23T08:42:00.000Z

Last year's spring/summer issue of the Harvard Design Magazine had a fascinating article on Lincoln House designed and built by Mary Otis Stevens and Thomas F. McNulty in 1965 and sadly, demolished in 2001. Intrigued by the story, I searched the web for more information and images of the house and found that it has almost no web presence. Shocked by this sad omission from the digital universe, I have decided to give it some exposure in this post.

Built in Lincoln, Massachusetts for Stevens, McNulty and their three sons, the house was a revolutionary piece of domestic architecture. Work and living spaces were not separated, and almost all interior doors were eliminated as privacy and separation were given through the curvature of the walls.

All of the walls were free-standing elements made from a high lime content cement that gave a marble-like finish when cured. Each wall was connected to the next by a glass panel, and each glass panel opened out onto the surrounding landscape.

In Stevens words, “The curves were throwing you out rather than holding you in. Each projected its energy into nature. We used the invisible power of the concave walls to relate the building beyond its site to the woods and fields of rural Lincoln—and beyond to the universe itself.”

The house was placed on a north-south axis, so that on a sunny day a streak of light would shoot down the stairs and extend its length and, as the day wore on, finds its way along the hallway leading to the children's area.

The overall design has a beautiful feeling of movement; from inside to outside and room to room, and speaks volumes about what was to come with open concepts and communal spaces. It is so sad that a house like this could be lost so easily, as it represents a fascinating period in modern residential architecture that has only now reached mass popularity.

Think Tank

2007-03-21T13:28:00.000Z

While writing my last post on funky cottage furniture, I began to think about one of my favourite designs for a lakeside cottage. Think Tank, by Gumuchdjian Architects, was designed as a birdwatching lakeside retreat for a private client near Skibberreen, County Cork.

What is striking about this building is the simplicity of its structure and its beautiful integration with the surrounding landscape. The project was a collaboration with a local builder, who used mainly local materials, and a specialist contractor. Environmental concerns were a huge consideration given the sensitive location and the goals of the client and architect to create a building that had minimal impact on the landscape.

Glass walls are broken in large squares that provide almost 360 degrees views of the lake and countryside. Cedar slats provide shade and screening, while at the same time continue the horizontal lines that are echoed along the pier. The choice of a pitched roof evokes local boathouses and barns and gives it a historic context.

It looks as if it was always meant to be there and always will.

Henri Quinta

2007-03-20T13:55:00.000Z

Quinta France S.A. is a family run furniture company based near Perpignan. It has been hand-crafting one of a kind pieces for almost one hundred years.

Henri Quinta, the current manager, has designed a really interesting furniture line called Campagne Première, which puts a new spin on rustic country style.

The collection is made up of quirky individual pieces, that veer more toward Folk Art or Arts and Crafts movement than traditional country.

This furniture would be an obvious choice for a very funky cottage or perhaps a country home constructed from a refurbished barn or outbuilding.

I could also see many of them integrating really well with an urban eclectic interior, as many of these pieces could easily stand alone and make a statement.

This chair, for example, looks quite rustic with its distressed finish, but it still has strong contemporary lines that give it a flexibility within different interior styles.

There is also a kaleidoscope of colours to choose from.

Romo

2007-03-18T11:51:00.000Z

Romo is a family run furnishing and upholstery fabric company based in Nottinghamshire, and I find the design and quality of their fabrics to be consistently excellent.

In their new Sarona collection I am quite taken with these soft vintage style shades in a tactile linen blend.

I also love the Roselli collection's silk and velvet stripe. The narrow lines give that opulent fabric a modern feel.

For an over the top luxury statement, there is the Tula silk collection in luscious shades of magenta, burgundy and rose.

Arcade Avec

2007-03-16T19:36:00.000Z

Arcade Avec is an incredible group of artists and designers based in Bolzano, Italy who collectively make furniture and accessories for the home.

These beautiful amber vases caught my eye as they glowed on their respective display shelves. They were created by Ivan Baj and are hand blown, hand engraved and each one is signed from a limited edition.

Paulo Haubert designed these beautiful hand woven textiles. The basket (left) is 100% wool and the pillows and throws (below) are 100% silk. I like how Paulo combines rich materials and rough knit.

The texture is raw, but it is also soft and luxurious. These accessories would be perfect in a minimalist setting to provide an earthy comfort and balance sharp clean edges.

He also designed these black and white throws throws (left), which are made from hand knitted merino wool.

This chaise, chair and ottoman were designed by Kazuhiko Tomitaya. They are constructed from a yamathar core on a metal frame.

Selldorf Architects

2007-03-15T11:39:00.000Z

Another one of my favourite architecture firms who create stunning interiors is Selldorf Architects based in New York. I love the careful restraint and placement of furniture, art, lighting and accessories. Everything is clean and simple, but at the same time luxurious.

Their interiors incorporate their clients everyday life and are extremely functional, though you would hardly notice. Every object is given breathing space, so that their forms stand out and yet integrate perfectly with other pieces in the room. I really admire the choice of chandelier (right) placed above the red sculptures below (both of which hint at coral) in room painted a lovely shade of chinoiserie green. The chairs provide an amazing framework by not being to heavy but adding simple clear lines.

In this room (left), rich reds and golds are used sparingly to bring warmth without erasing the liberating sense of space and light.

I love the choice of placing these gorgeous green subway tiles (right) next to the large grey granite tiles. This a really interesting play of lines, textures and colours.

"In an ideal house the sequence of space, private and communal, has an emotional logic that dovetails precisely with the needs and habits of its occupants"

Annabelle Selldorf

Hering Berlin

2007-03-13T12:12:00.000Z

I came across this beautiful porcelain collection by Hering Berlin at Maison & Objet and the photographs really do not do it justice. Most of the work is very delicate with soft edges and curves.

Every piece in the collection is unique. Each is hand made or moulded on the wheel, and the surface decoration washed out manually. They also offer a bespoke service.

Hering Berlin was created in 1999 by Stefanie Hering together with her husband, the architect Götz Esslinger, and ceramics specialist Wiebke Lehmann.

They also make some lovely free standing lamps.

Voronoi Bookshelf

2007-03-11T20:32:00.000Z

The Voronoi Bookshelf by Marc Newson is made from a single slab of white carrara marble. The organic shape gives the eye a welcome break from the monotony of rectangular shelving. Owning a unit like this would force you to look at your personal objects in a whole new way as you hunted for the right alcove in which to put them. This is a fantastic piece of design that will no doubt have lasting appeal. I have no idea how this would make it into the average home, but perhaps Newson liked the irony of using a totally impractical material for such a banal piece of household furniture. A shelving unit turned into glorious sculpture! I would not be surprised if it is reproduced in a more practical material in the future.

Translucent Porcelain Lighting

2007-03-09T21:23:00.000Z

I find the use of translucent porcelain in contemporary lighting exquisite. Delicate shapes and monumental forms take on a soft warm glow as they are illuminated from within the unglazed ceramic.

Here are two examples by a company called Diffuse that is based in the UK and owned by Jason and Lucy Boatswain. They slip cast their own porcelain and make pendants, wall lights, lamps and chandeliers. A lot of their pieces are custom designed like the chandelier shown (above), but there are many amazing stock designs to choose from as well (right).

The Cibola Pendant light by Scabetti (Dominic Bromley) is another striking example of how porcelain lighting can take on a sculptural quality.

Jean Baudrillard: Rest In Peace

2007-03-07T09:26:00.000Z

Never resist a sentence you like, in which language takes its own pleasure and in which, after having abused it for so long, you are stupefied by its innocence.

Jean Baudrillard

IQ Light

2007-03-06T12:12:00.000Z

Here is another example of great interactive design. The IQ Light is a self assembly lighting system consisting of interlocking quadrilaterals made of translucent PVC. It comes with easy to follow instructions, that show you how to make lamps of various shapes and sizes by linking together the identical elements.

As you have probably caught on from my previous posts, I love interior design that can interact with those who live and/or work within it. If a client was not totally keen on the idea of a completely interactive environment, something like the IQ Light could offer a smaller and perhaps subtler way, of allowing them to leave a creative fingerprint on their living space. How could you get bored of a light like this?

The IQ Light was designed in 1972 by Danish designer Holger Strøm, who was then working at the Kilkenny Design Workshops, Ireland. Kilkenny Illuminations Ltd. sold around 20,000 of these lights until 1999 when the rights were sold to Bald and Bang and it was relaunched in Copehagen.

Wallpaper 1

2007-03-04T19:16:00.000Z

Wallpaper has become incredibly popular again in the last few years and the choices of patterns, colours and textures can be completely daunting. It is an intimidating decision to make, as the wrong design could completely overwhelm an interior. If the colour and/or pattern is not balanced well within the overall scheme, it tends to become the only thing the viewer sees.

My favourite wallpaper company is Fromental. Established in 2005 by Tim Butcher, (formerly of de Gournay), Lizzie Deshayes and David Jones; the collection consists of wallpaper that is hand sewn, hand stitched and hand painted onto silk and paper. Each piece is made to order and they will also work with clients to make custom designs.

Some of their most stunning works are panoramic and non repeating pieces, that are produced to fit a pre-measured surface area.

Droog

2007-03-02T10:01:00.000Z

Last year I finally made it to Droog Design in Amsterdam. Not surprisingly, I was a little star struck. One of my favourite pieces is the St. Petersburg Chair (left) by Jurgen Bey. These chairs have been covered with a glass reinforced polyester and a silk screen flower pattern. What struck me was not the displayed colour and silk screen used, but the infinite possibilities of colours, patterns and textures that could be applied to millions of disregarded pieces of furniture of many styles and eras. This is such a clever way to reuse vintage pieces and make them functional inside and out. I instantly imagined patios and gardens with various combinations of dining room sets, placed against a backdrop of rolling landscape. What fun! The only questions in my mind would be the environmental toll of applying the reinforced polyester and the final cost, as these chairs currently retail for about $6000US each.
I love how Droog questions the relationships between design, materials, clients & cost and in their words 'pushes the envelope' in their approach of supporting cutting edge design and fighting the onslaught of brandwashing. What makes these products successful is that they are actually functional. Almost all of them balance usability with quirky, challenging design and unusual use of materials.

Post and Beam

2007-03-01T08:07:00.000Z

Growing up in Vancouver, one of my earliest influences in modern design was Post and Beam residential architecture. During the 1950s and 60s, they were celebrated inside and outside Canada for the way in which they related to the spectacular scenery and temperate climate of the West Coast.

Sitting on rocky outcrops, in between large cedar and fir trees, their streamlined edges seemed to become part of the landscape and at the same time add their own unique form; both complementing each other without being overwhelmed.

Perhaps given the era, not much thought was given to the practicalities of insulation and energy efficiency and, combined with being sadly misunderstood, many of these amazing houses have disappeared or been badly altered during refurbishment.

Pellet Stoves

2007-02-28T17:42:00.000Z

I have been big fan of pellet stoves as an alternative heating source for a while, but had yet to come across interesting designs until I stumbled across these two stoves by Ken Okuyama.

As stoves and fireplaces usually occupy such a prominent position in a room, form becomes as important as function. It is refreshing to finally see a more contemporary design (above left) that could be used in a minimalist setting.

Sixixis

2007-02-27T10:06:00.000Z

The Sixixis stall at 100% East (part of 100% Design) in September was crowed with people gazing at this lovely chaise lounge. Sixixis are three graduates from 3D Design for Sustainability at Falmouth College of Arts, and their studio is in Cornwall. Using customized bending equipment they create objects from locally available unseasoned timber.

My favourite piece is this custom designed playhouse/sculpture that can be moved about into any position in your garden. It was made for children, and can be occupied, climbed on and rolled about, and is fixed in place using child-proof legs.

Floor Art

2007-02-26T20:45:00.000Z

Lately, I have been very inspired by new designs in carpets and area rugs. It is as if the passion for bold design leaped from the wallpaper onto the floor. The Rug Company has an amazing selection of designs, colours and textures. Here I have shown some of my favourites: Varanasi (left) and Magnolia by Vivienne Westwood (below).

These rugs could be key pieces in many different styles of design and could subtly work to tie everything in. Most of all, they are like works of art that if cared for would add lasting appeal and pleasure to a room.

Based originally in Istanbul, Stepevi makes beautiful area rugs in a range of styles and sizes (below).

Veedon Fleece offers a custom design service for carpets as well as its own collection.

I quite like this damask runner and could see it in a variety of settings.

maxFUS

2007-02-25T08:34:00.000Z

Belgian architect and designer Karel Vandenhende has created an apartment that is completely interactive. He calls his system maxFUS (free undefined space).

Walls , which are also storage cupboards, can be moved around to completely alter your living area. Chairs, tables and beds are all on castors. Nothing is fixed.

He has also designed furniture that can flip and fit into different functions. For example, a desk could turn into a dining table, desk or chair.

In a world where we are increasingly defined by what we purchase, where we seem to all march to the same marketing drum, I am increasingly interested in the idea that we can interact with these products and the environment that we place them in. That they don't define us, but we define them.

Perhaps even more importantly, is that with this type of design, they could last and not become a part of an endless cycle of the desire for new. Smaller objects could come and go, but the overall structure would be lasting; as it could change with your tastes, needs and whims over time.

Livingstones

2007-02-22T14:38:00.000Z

Livingstones by Samarin are another great example of design that you can interact with.

These wonderful cushions, made to resemble oversized pebbles, can be rearranged and moved about from room to room. They come in a range of neutral colours and one bright red accent colour.

Dream House

2007-02-21T07:39:00.000Z

My favourite residential architect is Tom Kundig. I find his ability to combine raw, industrial elements into elegant residential structures simply breathtaking. These houses are not ethereal, pristine and glossy works of glass and steel, where residences feel like museums; they are buildings grounded in the earthy mechanics of everday.

For example:

Concrete walls expose the lines of wood forms.

A modern stainless steel kitchen will have doors that swing open on large metal wheels.

Fireplaces look as if they were salvaged from turn of the century factories.

Quirky domestic elements are added so that you could not help but feel at home. Everything can be touched, opened and closed.

The overall design combines the interior and exterior seemlessly, as if these houses were always meant to be there.

Incredibly elegant design that ties itself to the earth and landscape...

with a good sense of humour. ("You'll have lots of time to rest when you're six feet under")

Beaux Objets

2007-02-20T13:03:00.000Z

While I am on the theme of avant-garde art movements, these stunning ceramics from Kose, that I came across at Maison Objet in January, look as if they escaped from a cubist still life. The vases are handcrafted with a thin clay and each one is painted with water-colours or finished with precious metal effects: platinum, shiny grey-green or copper. They can also be enamelled inside to be filled in with water. The placement and combination of these beautiful shapes are limitless... Make your own still life.

The designer behind Kose is Rosaria Rattin, who also designs beautiful things for ISI.

The Launch

2007-02-19T14:43:00.000Z

Design is my passion. I see it as a place where fine art, practicality, craftsmanship, theory, functionality and beauty intersect.

I begin this blog today to establish an online portfolio of my work as an Interior Designer, and to create a forum for my tastes and opinions on design in general.

Currently, I love interiors with surrealist touches, where the juxtaposition of ordinary objects in an unusual context can give new meaning to familiar things. A good example of this can be seen in the work of Seattle architect and furniture designer Roy McMakin. (see photos) When these touches are added in subtle ways, the result is a refreshing jolt from the hum drum of overly stylized interiors and jars the observer into questioning what is the meaning behind it.

Another good example of this are the rocking chairs at the Boston Logan Airport. (Also at San Diego, Dallas and Charlotte, NC) The rather bleak contemporary international waiting lounge is lined with over sized white rocking chairs that look as if they were robbed from a Norman Rockwell painting. They are so out of place in the context of that building, that they demand responses from the individual. Who put me here? and why? Instead of the usual painful task of setting your jet lagged self on an uncomfortable vinyl placemat, you sink into an enormous rocking chair and watch planes take off. Kind of strange, kind of fun and very practical.